Résumé
The complex and influential nature of the coach-athlete relationship (CAR) has led to significant exploration in sport psychology research. Various theoretical frameworks have been used to conceptualize the CAR, including models of interdependence, leadership, and motivation, resulting in potentially siloed and overlapping bodies of evidence. This scoping review aims to identify, map, and compare the range of frameworks and conceptualizations used to represent the CAR in sport psychology research. Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we gathered studies from 11 major journals in sport coaching and psychology, resulting in a final 429 studies. The information chart included the type of study, methods used, specific measures used, and the major frameworks used to support the study. The articles were abductively categorized into 11 types of conceptualizations: motivation (33.5% of studies), leadership (17%), interdependence (10.5%), efficacy (4%), effective coaching (4%), communication (7%), skill and assets development (8%), safe sport (2%), personality (4%), demographics (4%), and other (6%). Findings illustrate three dominant conceptual lenses used to explore CAR: the outcomes approach (e.g., Does the CAR affect individual motivation or motivational climate?), the determinants approach (e.g., What leadership behaviours affect the CAR?), and the middle ground approach (e.g., How are CARs affected by individual, group, and contextual variables?). These three approaches have strengths and limitations suited to different research goals; thus to avoid siloed bodies of evidence, the advantages of each approach should be acknowledged and selected in concert with the research question at hand.
